Verified answer

Answer:

Osmosis is a biological and physical process that involves the movement of solvent molecules (usually water) through a semipermeable membrane from a region of lower solute concentration to a region of higher solute concentration. In simpler terms, it's the movement of water from an area where there is more water (or fewer solute particles) to an area where there is less water (or more solute particles).

This process is important in various biological contexts, including the movement of water and nutrients in plants, the functioning of animal cells, and the functioning of various biological systems. Osmosis is crucial for maintaining the balance of water and solutes within cells and across cell membranes.

Osmosis plays a role in various practical applications as well, such as water purification processes, preservation of food, and medical treatments. It's a fundamental concept in biology and has implications in fields like chemistry, physiology, and biophysics.

Explanation:

osmosis, the spontaneous passage or diffusion of water or other solvents through a semipermeable membrane (one that blocks the passage of dissolved substances—i.e., solutes). The process, important in biology, was first thoroughly studied in 1877 by a German plant physiologist, Wilhelm Pfeffer. Earlier workers had made less accurate studies of leaky membranes (e.g., animal bladders) and the passage through them in opposite directions of water and escaping substances.